Dramas With Little Or No Romance

sometimes we just wanna watch something that's not so romance focused, each drama in the list has a comment explaining why i put the drama in this list

INCLUDES:

dramas i think personally have no romance
dramas that only have romantic subtext but no obvious canon romantic main couple
dramas that have no main couple but might have romantic side couples

obviously this only includes dramas i've seen so it'll continue to be updated the more i watch

note: there may be an imbalance of what country the drama is from as a lot of the korean, thai, taiwanese, & chinese dramas i've watched have a romantic plot with heavy focus within them, so that's why there's a lot of jdramas above anything else

Lex Apr 9, 2021

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1. 17-sai no Teikoku

Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes

7.0
- definitely an implied romance but it can be ignored
2. 19th Floor

Chinese Drama - 2024, 30 episodes

9.0
- romantic sideplot, definitely has a heavier focus nearer the end of the series compared to the beginning
3. 3 Nen A Gumi: Ima kara Mina-san wa, Hitojichi Desu

Japanese Drama - 2019, 10 episodes

10
- very minor background romances that can be ignored
- more student/mentor & platonic focused dynamics
4. 49 Days with a Merman

Taiwanese Drama - 2022, 14 episodes

8.5
- romantic side plot that i think can be easily ignored
  (tbh you could view it as platonic if you ignore like a few lines)
- focuses more on the bromance
5. A League of Nobleman

Chinese Drama - 2023, 29 episodes

9.0
- bromance focused
- no romance
6. A Lonely Hero’s Journey

Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes

7.0
- minor romance sideplots
7. Acma:Game

Japanese Drama - 2024, 10 episodes

8.0
- no romance if there was i totally missed it and it went over my head (could've possibly have been an unrequited love plot that i ignored but even if it was there it was very minor)
8. Advent of an Aristocrat: Prince of Legend

Japanese Movie - 2020

8.5
- very minor romance
9. Aogeba Toutoshi

Japanese Drama - 2016, 8 episodes

9.0
- platonic & mentor focused
- i don't remember there being any romance in this
10. Aoki Vuanpaia no Nayami

Japanese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

8.0
- no explicit romance but could be read as romantic subtext
11. Are You Safe

Chinese Drama - 2022, 31 episodes

7.5
- romance sideplot between 2 support characters that can be ignored
- bromance focused
- mentor/mentee focused
12. Aristocratic Birth: Prince of Legend

Japanese Drama - 2019, 6 episodes

9.0
- no romance
13. Atom no Ko

Japanese Drama - 2022, 9 episodes
- mostly postentially implied subtext
14. Bad Prosecutor

Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes

8.5
- barely any romance here and if there is you need to squint to see it
15. Bangkok Breaking

Thai Drama - 2021, 6 episodes

8.5
- minor romance but the main focus of the drama is the corruption
16. Barakamon

Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes

8.5
- no romance
- platonic/familial focused
17. Be with You

Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes

8.0
- i'd say there was no romance in this but it could've been implied but the mangotv subs were so bad idk wtf was going on half the time
18. Beyond Evil

Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes

9.0
- there's pretty much no romance in this (the only thing really is a very incredibly minor subplot of a romance of a dead character in like one flashback)
- romantic subtext
19. Bittersweet

Japanese Movie - 2016

9.5
- platonic focused
- mentions of romance
20. Black Postman

Japanese Drama - 2023, 7 episodes

7.0
- barely any romance
21. Blind

Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

9.5
- very little romance, which is mostly subtext
22. Blood Free

Korean Drama - 2024, 10 episodes

7.5
- romantic subtext
23. Blue Moment

Japanese Drama - 2024, 10 episodes

8.0
- minor romance (in flashbacks as it deals with the loss of a romantic partner)
24. Boss-dol Mart

Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

7.0
- small romance sideplots
25. Brush Up Life

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

9.0
- friendship focused
- very minor romantic sideplot near the beginning / mentions of an old crush/relationship
26. Cat Property: The Movie

Japanese Movie - 2022

8.5
- barely any romance you pretty much have to squint to see it if you really want to but very platonic focused
27. Cheat

Japanese Drama - 2019, 10 episodes

8.0
- anzai flirts with literally everyone but that's about it
28. Cheer Boys!!

Japanese Movie - 2019

8.5
- platonic focused
- maybe a very minor subtext towards a romance
29. Chicken Nugget

Korean Drama - 2024, 10 episodes

8.0
- romance sideplot that well is only mentioned a few times because the FL turns into a nugget
30. City Hunter

Japanese Movie - 2024

7.5
- i feel like they tried to hint towards romance but i saw it more as a sibling vibe but it was minor anyway
31. Code: Negai no Daisho

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

7.0
- romantic subplot that doesn't last long
- revenge focused
32. Coffee Ikaga Deshou

Japanese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

7.5
- romantic subtext but kind of not really at the same time
33. Company: Gyakuten no Swan

Japanese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

9.0
- minor romance (husband/wife going through divorce) but it's not the main focus
- hints at potential romances that don't go anywhere
34. Cool Doji Danshi

Japanese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

8.5
- no romance
35. Crosstail: Tantei Kyoushitsu

Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes

6.0
- very little romance from what i can remember
36. Da Capo Shimasen ka?

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

5.5
- aint no time for romance in this drama tbh
37. Death Note

Japanese Drama - 2015, 11 episodes

9.5
- there is a romantic relationship but i think it was more out of convenience than love & can be ignored imo
38. Death Note NEW GENERATION

Japanese Drama - 2016, 3 episodes

7.0
- no romance i think
39. Death Note: Light up the New World

Japanese Movie - 2016

8.0
- no romance if i remember correctly
40. dele

Japanese Drama - 2018, 8 episodes

9.0
- very little romance (mostly related to side characters)
41. Desire Catcher

Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes

8.5
- maybe romantic subtext
42. Divorce Attorney Shin

Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

7.0
- drama is mostly about divorce so there's that
- romance sideplots
43. Doctor Prisoner

Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes

9.5
- hints to a possible romance
44. Dog Knows Everything

Korean Drama - 2024, 12 episodes

8.0
- minor romance sideplots
45. Dominator of Martial Gods

Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes

8.0
- very very minor romantic subplot but imo it was unrequited most of the time
46. Dr. White

Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes

7.0
- no romance from what i remember
47. Dream

Korean Movie - 2023

9.0
- no romance
48. Enjiya

Japanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes

8.0
- only the first 2 eps are somewhat romance focused but it's more about revenge & heartbreak than the romance itself
49. Eternal Brotherhood

Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes

8.0
- romantic sideplots but the main focus is on the 3 MLs as a unit and separately as characters
50. FAKE MOTION: Takkyu no Osho

Japanese Drama - 2020, 8 episodes

8.5
- no romance
- platonic focus
51. Fermat no Ryori

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

7.5
- basically none
- there might be subtext between one of the MLs & his friend but it's very unrequited imo from her side
52. Fighting for Love

Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes

8.5
- romance sideplot
53. Fixer

Japanese Drama - 2023, 5 episodes

7.0
- no romance from what i remember
54. Fuujinshi

Japanese Drama - 2022, 9 episodes

9.0
- no romance
- barely any romantic subtext imo
55. Ghost Yankee

Japanese Drama - 2024, 5 episodes

7.0
- no romance
56. Gifted

Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

8.0
- no romance
57. Gifted Season 2

Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

7.0
- no romance
58. Hakozume: Tatakau! Koban Joshi

Japanese Drama - 2021, 9 episodes

8.5
- little romance (characters go on mixers/dates but never really lead anywhere)
59. Hakubo no Chronicle

Japanese Drama - 2024, 12 episodes

7.0
- no romance except sideplots that were minor if there was any romantic subtext it definitely went over my head
60. High&Low the Movie 2: End of Sky

Japanese Movie - 2017

8.5
- platonic relationships are the main focus
- minor mentions of a romance
61. High&Low the Movie 3: Final Mission

Japanese Movie - 2017

8.0
- platonic relationships are the main focus
- minor mentions of a romance
62. High&Low: The Movie

Japanese Movie - 2016

9.0
- platonic relationships are the main focus
- minor mentions of a romance
63. High&Low: The Red Rain

Japanese Movie - 2016

7.0
- familial relationship is the main focus
- no romance if i remember correctly
64. High&Low: The Story of S.W.O.R.D.

Japanese Drama - 2015, 10 episodes

8.0
- friendship focused
- some minor hints to romance here & there but it doesn't lead anywhere & can be ignored
65. High&Low: The Worst

Japanese Movie - 2019

8.0
- platonic relationships are the main focus
- minor mentions of a romance(?)
66. High&Low: The Worst Episode.O

Japanese Drama - 2019, 6 episodes

7.5
- platonic focused
- (not so) romantic sideplot for a side character in ep 4
67. High&Low: The Worst X

Japanese Movie - 2022

8.5
- no romance
- bromance focused
68. Hiru Season 2

Japanese Drama - 2022, 6 episodes

8.0
- barely any romance compared to the first season
69. Hitotsubashi Kiriko no Hanzai Nikki

Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes

7.0
- no romance from what i can remember
70. Hot Stove League

Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes

9.5
- no romance
- maybe some subtext between female lead & second male lead
71. I Am Nobody

Chinese Drama - 2023, 27 episodes

8.0
- small romance sideplot
72. Ichiban Sukina Hana

Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes

8.0
- minor romantic subplots that are mostly unrequited, the main focus is platonic
73. Ima kara Anata wo Kyouhaku Shimasu

Japanese Drama - 2017, 9 episodes

6.5
- mostly romantic subtext with a minor romance in flashbacks
74. Informa

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

8.5
- minor romance sideplot
75. Insider

Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

7.5
- very minor romantic subtext
76. Invert: Jozuka Hisui Toujoshu

Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes

7.0
- barely any romance unlike the prequel
77. Invisible

Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes

8.0
- romantic subtext
78. Ishiko to Haneo: Sonna Koto de Uttaemasu?

Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes

9.0
- romance sideplot but it doesn't have much of a focus because you kinda forget about it
79. Janus no Kagami

Japanese Drama - 2019, 8 episodes

7.5
- implied that shindo maybe has feelings for hiromi
- implied that tatsuya has feelings for yumi
- no romantic relationships
80. Joshi Kousei no Mudazukai

Japanese Drama - 2020, 7 episodes

6.5
- mentions of romance
- friendship focused
81. Joy of Life

Chinese Drama - 2019, 46 episodes

9.0
- romantic sideplot but so much happens in this drama it's kinda on the back burner for a lot of it, i do adore the main couple though don't get me wrong but the romance is definitely not the main focus of this drama it's more about political intrigue, family dynamics, and palace politics
82. Joy of Life Season 2

Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes

9.0
- the same really as season 1, i feel like they spend more time apart in this season compared to the first one too
83. Kaidanshita no Gogh

Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes

7.0
- could be romantic subtext in this but you can read it platonically and/or as admiration
84. Kanakana

Japanese Drama - 2022, 28 episodes

8.5
- main focus is familial and platonic
- romance sideplot that's mostly unrequited
85. Kashimashi Meshi

Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

8.0
- romantic sideplots but the main focus is the friendship
86. Kazama Kimichika: Kyojo Zero

Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes

7.0
- no romance from what i remember
87. Keiji to Kenji, Tokidoki Hanji

Japanese Drama - 2023, 9 episodes

8.0
- minor romantic sideplots that either are unrequited or are from guest characters
88. Keishicho Outsider

Japanese Drama - 2023, 9 episodes

8.5
- bromance focused
89. Kichijoji Losers

Japanese Drama - 2022, 12 episodes

8.5
- minor romantic subplots that last really one ep or half an ep but overall there's not much
90. Kiwadoi Futari: K2: Ikebukurosho Keijika Kanzaki Kuroki

Japanese Drama - 2020, 6 episodes

9.5
- no romance
- family focus
91. Knockin' on Locked Door

Japanese Drama - 2023, 9 episodes

7.5
- no romance
92. Koisenu Futari

Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes

10
- no romance as it focuses on two aromantic characters who don't want romantic relationships
- though it does touch upon past romantic relationships & romantic relationships in general in regards to combating amatonormativity
93. Kyoso no Bannin

Japanese Drama - 2022, 11 episodes

6.0
- barely any romance & if there is it's guest couples
94. Law School

Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes

9.0
- minor romance
95. Liaison: Kodomo no Kokoro Shinryosho

Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

9.5
- no romance
96. Link Click

Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes

7.0
- no romance
- bromance focused
97. Live Surgery Room

Chinese Drama - 2024, 28 episodes

8.5
- no romance, a minor romantic subplot which is mostly unrequited and very minor i mostly was able to ignore it
98. Maestra: Strings of Truth

Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

8.0
- barely any romance it's revenge focused so there aint no time for that
- 2ML(? not the FL's husband her childhood ex) definitely has feelings for the FL tho
99. Malice

Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

7.5
- no romance
100. Mars: Zero no Kakumei

Japanese Drama - 2024, 9 episodes

7.0
- no romance from what i remember if there was some i didn't catch on